Sickbed barf bags

ABSTRACT

A single elongated sheet of waterproof flexible material is horizontally and medially folded to form both an open-topped lower container and an upper lid for the container. The container is preformed by folding the two sides of the lower portion of the sheet inwardly and adhesively securing them to each other and to the bottom of the sheet. The inwardly folded sides have overlapping accordian-like folds to permit expansion of the open top of the container. The accordian-like folds extend upwardly along the opposite sides of the lid to form a trough for directing material into the open top of the container. Suspension means are provided for suspending the open container by its lid and for closing the open top when desired.

United States Patent Knotts 1 SICKBED BARF BAGS [72] Inventor: Darlene P. Knotts, 533 E. Maplewood Dr., Littleton, Colo. 80120 [22] Filed: Sept. 25, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 75,441

[52] US. Cl ..4/267, 229/53 [51] Int. Cl. ..A6lg 7/06, A61j 19/00 [58] Field of Search ..4/1 12, 284, 285, 274; 128/275,

' 128/292, DIG. 24; 229/53, 75

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,597,556 8/1926 Townsend ..128/292 1,105,785 8/1914 Hogan ..229/75 162,170 4/1875 Horton ..128/292 1,478,838 12/ l 923 Reifsnyder ..229/53 1,692,777 11/1928 Jewell ..229/53 1,692,951 11/1928 Pinckney ..229/53 1,895,267 12/1933 Poppe ..229/53 1,939,797 12/1933 Swift ..229/53 2,323,287 7/1943 Amberg ..229/53 1 Sept. 26, 1972 3,529,765 9/1970 Wemlinger ..229/62 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 662,864 12/1951 Great Britain ..229/53 Primary Examiner-Frederick L. Matteson Assistant Examiner-Donald B. Massenberg Attorney-R. H. Galbreath [57] ABSTRACT A single elongated sheet of waterproof flexible materia1 is horizontally and medially folded to form both an open-topped lower container and an upper lid for the container. The container is preformed by folding the two sides of the lower portion of the sheet inwardly and adhesively securing them to each other and to the bottom of the sheet. The inwardly folded sides have overlapping accordian-like folds to permit expansion of the open top of the container. The accordiandike folds extend upwardly along the opposite sides of the lid to form a trough for directing material into the open top of the container. Suspension means are provided for suspending the open container by its lid and for closing the open top when desired.

1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDSEPZB m2 3,693,192

SHEET 2 0F 2 INVENTOR.

SICKBED BARFBAGS limited as to use, ismoreparticularly designed for use by sickbed patients and will be herein designated as a sickbed barf bag. I

Usually when stomach distress is developed by a bedridden patient a shallow-shaped bedpan, if available, is quickly held in a receiving position relative to the patient or, if such a pan is not available, waterproof sheets or towels are quickly provided. This usually results in a bedraggled bed since it is difiicult to'maintain the pan or other protective means in the proper position for effective use. j

The principal object of this invention is to provide a barf bag which can be conveniently and unobtrusively attached to the patients pillow so as to remain in place toprotect the pillow and bedding against soilage and which will gravitationly direct patient-ejected material to a moisture-resistant [disposable receiver should stomach sickness develop.

Another object is to provide a closure means for the receiver which willserve both as a closing lid and as a guide trough to directmaterial to the receiver.

A further object is to form a barf bag and lid assembly from a single sheet of disposable, moisture-resistant, flexible material so thatthe complete assembly will freely conform to the bedding surface without the usual inconvenience of a rigid bedpan.

, Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof. Like numerals refer to likeparts in all views of the drawings and throughout the description. I

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 isa plan view of the single sheet from which the improved sickbed barf bag is formed;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the sheet of FIG. 1 folded and prepared for use;

FIG. 3 is .a similar perspective view showing the prepared sheet of FIG. 2 in the filledand closed position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged and expanded cross-sectional view taken on the line 44, FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 illustrates the invention as it would appear on a sickbed ready for use.

The improved sickbed barf bag is formed from a single, unitary, flexible sheet of waterproofed paper, such as waxed freezer paper or other suitable flexible, moisture-proofed sheet material blanked out, as shown in FIG. 1, to form an elongated, rectangular lid portion hingedly joined, as indicated at 11, to the upper extremity of a similar elongated, rectangular back portion 12. Two side portions 13 and 14 are hingedly joined, as shown at 15, to the opposite side edges of the back portion 12 and a bag-closing flap 16, provided with an adhesive area 17 projects from, and along, the bottom edge of the back portion 12. The side portion 14 is provided with an adhesive edge area 18 and the lid portion 10 is provided with a suspension perforation 25.

The two side portions 13 and 14 are each provided with an inclined fold line 19 which outlines triangular gusset areas 20 on each of the side flaps. The two side edges of. the lid portion 10 are provided with inclined fold lines 21 which outline'triangular gusset areas 22 on the sides of the lid portion and the two side edges of the back portion 12 are each provided with an inclined fold line 23 which outlinetriangular gusset areas 24 on the I sides ofthe back portion.

The sheet of FIG. 1 is assembled by: folding the triangular gusset areas 22 and 24 inwardly on the fold lines 21 and 23, respectively; folding the triangular gusset areas 20 outwardly, on the fold lines 23 of the back portion 12 and over the gusset areas 24; folding the two side portions 13 and 14 inwardly over the back portion 12 and adhesively attaching the side portions together by means of the adhesive area 18 on the side portion 14; and thence folding the flap l6 upwardly over the bottom of the assembled side portions and securing it in place by means of the adhesive area 17 on the flap 16 to form an open-topped container.

The above procedure will produce the formation shown in FIG. 2with the gussets 22 on the lid portion .10 forming a guide trough to guide materials into the open top of the container and withthe gussets 20 and 24 forming .accordian-like expansible sides in the container.

For use, the lid portion 10 is attached to the pillow of a bed, in any suitable temporary manner such as by means of safety pin 26, alongside the patients face with the open top of the container below the patients mouth, as shown in FIG. 5. The accordian-like sides and the flexible sheet material allow the open top tobe expandedand retained in an open position to readily receive material deposited on the trough-like lid portion without soilage of the bedding.

, The barf bag of this invention may be made of any suitable size. In actual practice, the overall length when in the open position of FIG. 2 is approximately 26 inches, the width, at the extremities is approximately 8 inches and the width of the open top is approximately 6 inches.

It is preferred to place a conventional pronged envelope fastener 27 on the joined side portions 13 and 14, as shown in FIG. 2. The fastener is positioned so that the .prongs thereof may be inserted and spread through the suspension perforation 25, when the lid portion is folded downwardly, as shown in FIG. 3, so as to retain the accumulated material in the container when the latter is dropped into a disposal receptacle.

- While a selected form of the invention has been above described, it is understood that mechanical variations and detail substitutions can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A disposable sickbed barf bag formed from a sheet of flexible moisture-resistant material comprising:

a. a substantially rectangular back portion formed from said sheet; I I

b. a substantially rectangular lid portion unitarily joined to the upper edge of said back portion;

c. a substantially rectangular side portion foldably joined to each side edge of said back portion, said side portions being folded inwardly over said back portion and being overlapped over each other and over said back portion, and an adhesive area positioned between and securing the overlapped side portions together;

d. a closing flap foldably and unitarily joined to the bottom edge of said back portion and folded over ,the lower edges of said overlapped and secured side portions to form an open topped container below said lid portion;

e. adhesive means securing the folded over closing flap to said overlapped side portions; and

f. a pair of unitary, triangular gusset areas formed in said sheet between each side area and said back portion in accordian-like relation allowing said side portions to be moved toward and away from said back portion to control the area of the open top of said container, certain of said gusset areas at each side of said back portion being continued along each side edge of said lid portion to form a trough on the latter to guide material from said lid portion into the open top of said container. 

1. A disposable sickbed barf bag formed from a sheet of flexible moisture-resistant material comprising: a. a substantially rectangular back portion formed from said sheet; b. a substantiAlly rectangular lid portion unitarily joined to the upper edge of said back portion; c. a substantially rectangular side portion foldably joined to each side edge of said back portion, said side portions being folded inwardly over said back portion and being overlapped over each other and over said back portion, and an adhesive area positioned between and securing the overlapped side portions together; d. a closing flap foldably and unitarily joined to the bottom edge of said back portion and folded over the lower edges of said overlapped and secured side portions to form an open topped container below said lid portion; e. adhesive means securing the folded over closing flap to said overlapped side portions; and f. a pair of unitary, triangular gusset areas formed in said sheet between each side area and said back portion in accordian-like relation allowing said side portions to be moved toward and away from said back portion to control the area of the open top of said container, certain of said gusset areas at each side of said back portion being continued along each side edge of said lid portion to form a trough on the latter to guide material from said lid portion into the open top of said container. 